When leaving town, you want to spend your money on the trip, not on your empty home. Here are six tips to save both energy and money when going out of town.
Prep the Fridge
Since it won’t be opened in the usual manner and will be able to maintain coolness, you can move the temperatures in your refrigerator and freezer up slightly. You’ll likely remove perishables before leaving, but be sure to leave enough inside so it’s not working overtime to cool nothing. If it is looking too bare, add in a few containers of water for increased efficiency. Or, clean it out completely and unplug it for extended trips.
Unplug
Before heading out, walk room-to-room unplugging anything that will not be running while you are gone. Don’t overlook large energy consumers such as the washer and dryer, televisions and sound systems. You may not be thrilled with the prospect of facing a bunch of blinking clocks once you are back home, but that can be offset with the lower bill you will receive next month.
Draw the Drapes
While this can diminish the risk of criminals taking inventory of the happenings – or rather, non-happenings – of your home while you are gone, it will also create energy savings. Having the blinds or curtains closed can help create a more efficient climate controlled home during any season.
Drop the Temperature
There is no use in heating an empty house so create substantial savings on your next heating bill by lowering the temperature in your home while you are gone. You do not want to go so low as to create the possibility of freezing pipes, but you can decrease the temps to the 50s to increase energy savings while keeping the plumbing intact.
Use a Light Timer
There are two reasons to invest in a light timer. First, you save energy and money by allowing lights to go on in intervals instead of remaining on for the entirety of your absence. Second, it creates the illusion that there is someone inside turning the lights on and off, deterring potential burglars.
Set the Water Heater to Standby
With no showers being taken, no dishes being cleaned and no clothes being washed, there is no need for your water heater to continually work to keep your home supplied with hot water. Many heaters have a standby or vacation mode, keeping it from working needlessly while you’re gone. If you don’t have that mode, set the thermostat to its lowest. Remember to increase the temperature back to normal as soon as you arrive home as it can take a few hours to heat back to preferred levels.
